CHURCH AND STATE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 199, 8 June 1929, Page 5

CHURCH AND STATE.

LATERAN TREATY RATIFICATION PICTURESQUE EXCHANGE, /United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) ROME, June 7. The exchange of ratification of the Lateran Treaty were carried out this morning with picturesque ceremony. It is notable that Signor Mussolini was the first Premier of United Italy to set foot in the Vatican when he entered Cardinal Gasparri's Palace to deposit the State's ratification. Directly the ceremony was over the Pope's Swiss guards mounted a sentry at the approaches to the Vatican City as' a sign of sovereignty. Simultaneously the bronze, gates of the palace were thrown open as a signal of peace between Church and Sfate.—Australian Press Association.

COMMENT ON POPE'S LETTER.

NEWSPAPER'S VIOLENT ATTACK

•United Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 7. The Rome correspondent of "The Times" savs that thus "far "Tevere and "Impero" are the only Fascist newspapers to comment upon the Pope's letter, which only the Roman Catholic organs published fully, the others giving only inadequate and partial summaries. "Tevere" ignores most of "the Popes points, and describes the latter as merely a "solemn foreseen affirmation of the Church's viewpoint." The paper concedes that the letter is completely consistent with Roman Catholic dogma. "Impero," on the other hand, violently attacks the Pope for daring to censure the Duce. "We never offended the Church, and the Church must not offend Fascism. Fascism is not to be ■ criticised, save by the Fascists, and the Duce by no one." It is evident from the Pope's letter that the future going will be full of difficulties for Italian Roman Catholics, who are also convinced that the Fascists are already beginning to realise that the inner conflict between their civil and religious,loyalties are still far from being resolved.